Sanding device.



B. C. LORING.

SANDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

WITNESSES farin ATTORNEY UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

BENJAMIN C. LORING, OF EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES TILLINGHAST, TRUSTEE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SANDING DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26, 1908.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 440,449.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN C. LORING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the town of Cranston, in the .county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanding Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

This invention relates to improvements in sanding devices for street cars, and the like, and has for its object to provide an improved stirring head for a sanding device w ich is simple and inexpensive in construction and effective in its operation.

In street railroading the importance of positively depositing sand upon the rails when required in order to insure the effective ac tion of the brakes, is fully recognized by railroad men, as upon such action depends the control of the cars. Moist sand is preferably used on the car tracks, first as it is heavier, which causes it to fall directly onto the track Where it sticks and does not blow away, and second, because it does not cut or grind away the face of the wheels so quickly. Sometimes it is also necessary to use sand that is very Wet, and sometimes sand or dirt that is muddy and sticky, and when such material is used it has been found impossible-to deposit the same upon the rails with any degree of certainty by any of the devices now on the market.

My present invention, which is designed to overcome the above difficulties, is an improvement on that illustrated and described in my prior patent No. 879,658, and embodies a valve body which is particularly adapted to act upon material of any quality or condition to first loosen, stir and separate the particles, and then with a rotary scooping action collect, and draw the material around the opening and finally deposit the same into the delivery pipe through which it falls by gravity upon the rails whenever desired, thus providing greater safety in the handlin of the cars, as by its use many accidents w ich might otherwise occur are successfully prevented.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. portion 2 in the up or end thereof.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1is a side elevation showing a portion of a car in section, with my improved sanding device located on the front platform thereof, the same being adapted to be operated by the foot of the motorman. Fig. 2is an enlarged view of the rotating mechanism showing the same completely inclosed in a rotecting casing. Fig. 3is a plan view of my improved rotatable loosening and stirring device, showing the curved form of its 001- lecting arms or vanes. Fig. 4is a side elevation of the stirring body showing the same in position covering the upper end of the delivery pipe. Fig. 5shows an enlarged section of one of the arms on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 illustrating the beveled edges whereby the stirrer is caused to more readily enter the sand as the head is moved up and down.

Referring to the drawings, at 1 is the box or receptacle which may be located in any convenient place on the car. The same is adapted to be filled through the hinged cover In this receptacle is locatec the stirring device which consists of a casing 3 secured in position through the bracket 4 to the front portion of the car or side of the receptacle. The closing cap 5 is preferably threaded into the upper end of the casing and is provided with an oil hole 6 through which the operating mechanism may be lubricated as often as desired. This hole may be closed by means of the screw plug 7. At the lower end of this casing is a contracted shaft inclosing neck 8 which extends downward nearly to the bottom of the box. Fitting loosely in the enlarged portion of this casing is the cylindrical portion 9 in which is formed the helical cam groove 10, which groove preferably extends about one-half way around said cylinder 9. A pin 11 is threaded through the side of this casing, the inner end of which enga es said cam groove, said pin being secured rmly in position by the check nut 12. The coil spring 13 extends from the cap 5 to the top of this cylinder to press the same downward and hold it normally in its down position.

My invention consists broadly in the construction of the valve body 14, which in addition to supporting the stirring means is adapted to serve as a valve or closing plug for the aperture 15 in the delivery pipe 16. When this head is compared with that of my i said prior patent it will be observed that the central core is shaped as a truncated cone both upward and downwardly from its greatest diameter. The downward cone acts as a valve or stopper for the sand pipe, and the upward cone facilitates the movement of the stirring head when pushed upwardly through the sand. Projecting radially outward from this valve body are the plurality of curved arms or vanes 17. These arms or vanes are bent or curved in the direction of their rotation and their lower edges extend below the plane of the greatest diameter of the valve body and below the level of the top of the sand pipe when the pipe is closed by the valve portion of the body, the sand pipe being extended above the inner bottom of the said box for this purpose. It will be observed that as the stirring head is raised it must pass up into the sand above disposing and compressing the sand outwardly. As shown in my prior patent above referred to, the arms or blades were arranged to stir the sand only while being compressed by the central core. In this invention the arms extend below the plane of compression where the sand is free to move into the open mouth of the pipe and the broad scoop shape of the arms thus reach out as they rotate and scoop, collect, accumulate, assemble and draw the particles of sand, dirt, mud or other substance, with which they come in contact around the mouth of the delivery pipe, and by its rotating screw-action deposit the same into said pipe through which it is conducted to the rails below. This valve and stirrer are connected to the cam cylinder through the upright shaft 17 The invention further consists of a plurality of projecting horns 1818 which extend upwardly from the head at a slight angle from the vertical. These horns may be made in any desired shape and supported from the head in any desiredmanner, but I herein show the same as being wires which are forced into corresponding holes in the head. These horns are especially adapted, as the head is raised and rotated, to enter a muddy, sticky substance to loosen, stir and cause the same to fall to the lower portion of the receptacle where it is again acted upon by the curved vanes or arms and collected and deposited through the delivery pipe.

This mechanism is adapted to be operated by the foot of the motorman through the re movable pin 19, pivoted lever 20 and connection 21. The delivery end of the discharge pipe 16 into which the valve 14 sets projects above the floor of the receptacle, see Fig. 4., and its lower end extends down through said floor to which end is connected a flexible tub-e 23 reaching nearly to the rail. This pipe 16 is slotted at 24 in one side to admit one end of said pivoted lever 20 and permit its working therein. By this arrangement the sand has no tendency to drop through the slot on its way from the valve opening to the rails 25.

The device is very simple and inexpensive in construction and practical and effective in its operation as sand, dirt or mud of any quality or consistency may be dumped into the receptacle and even though the same may be packed hard therein as the stirring head is raised the outwardly extending horns will enter, stir and break up the mass causing the same to fall to the bottom of the receptacle to be further acted upon by the curved blades by which it is drawn in and deposited through the delivery pipeonto the rails. The action is positive and may be depended upon under all conditions and any circumstances to deposit the required amount upon the rails, thus insuring the effective working of the brakes and prevent ing accidents which might otherwise occur.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom, an endwise movable valve seated upon and adapted to control said outlet, one or more arms or vanes adapted to revolve about the mouth of the outlet opening substantially in the same plane therewith when the valve is in its raised position, and means for rotating said arms to stir the sane and facilitate its passing through said opening.

2. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom, the end of the pipe forming the outlet ex tending above the adjacent surface at the bottom of the receptacle, a rotatable and endwise movable shaft, a valve body attached to the shaft and adapted to control said outlet, one or more arms or vanes connected to said body and extending below it, whereby the arms will stir the sand around the open space above the outlet and under the valve as the shaft rises and rotates.

3. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve for controlling said outlet, one or more arms curved in the direction of their rotation, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and arms, and means for operating said shaft.

l. in a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve for controlling said outlet, one or more curved arms adapted to extend below the mouth of the outlet when in their down position, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and arms, and means for operating said shaft.

5. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet pipe the end of said pipe being raised above the bottom of said receptacle, a valve for controlling said outlet, one or more arms curved in the direction of their rotation and adapted to extend below the mouth of said outlet when in their down position, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and arms, and means for operating said shaft.

6. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve body adapted to control said outlet, one or more curved arms or vanes connected to said body and adapted to extend below the broadest portion of the same, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and arms, and means for operating said shaft.

7. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve body for controlling said outlet, one or more horns or upwardly projecting members on said body for engaging, loosening and breaking up the mass, and one or more outwardly projecting curved arms or vanes also on said body adapted to 'ather and deposit the sand through said outlet, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and stirrer, and means for operating said shaft.

8. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve for controlling said outlet, one or more arms curved in the direction of their rotation, said arms being made thin on i both their upper and lower edges to facilitate their passage through the sand, an endwise movable rotatable shaft connected to said valve and arms, and means for operating 5,

said shaft.

9. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom portion, a valve body for controlling said outlet, means on said body for enga ing, loosening and breaking up the mass, 1.I1( one or more outwardly projecting curved arms or vanes also on said body, and means including a cam actuated shaft inclosed in a casing Within said receptacle whereby said body and arms may be rotated.

10. In a sanding device, a sand receptacle provided with an outlet through its bottom, a rotatable and endwise movable shaft, a valve body attached to the shaft and adapted to control said outlet, one or more arms or vanes connected to said body and extending below it, whereby the arms will stir the sand around the o Jen space above the outlet and under the valve as the shaft rises and rotates.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN C. LORING.

Witnesses HOWARD E. BARLOW', E. I. OGDEN. 

